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Edited on Wed Jan-06-10 10:06 AM by Armstead
Cleaning up my journal, I ran across this, which I posted in 2006. It's a different world today, but this seems even more relevant in the wake of the economic collapse and the rise of angry populism. It reflects (in my opinion of course) what Democrats ought to be doing today. It also, (IMO of course) gives some context to current issues and progressive frustrations and Democratic schisms.
2006 -- An Issue to embrace, NOT run away from
Corporations have acquired too much power. The economy has become monopolistic, rather than competitive and diverse. Politics has become oriented toward protecting the interests of the wealthy and powerful at the expense of everyone else. Our government has given up on its basic role in promoting the common good. "Free trade" globalization is eroding the base of our domestic economy and middle class, while also screwing the poorer nations by making them into colonies. Ownership of the media has become concentrated in too few mega-corporations, which stifles the basic freedom of speech and narrows our public discourse.
Our priority should be to begin to slow and eventually reverse this process of increased consolidation of Wealth and Power, and return to an economy based on diversity and shared prosperity and political power.
Restore regulation that sets rules to prevent abuse of wealth and power, and opens the door to more new businesses of all sizes. We should also restore the position and appreciation of the role of employees at all levels, and ensure that anyone who works a full time job is paid enough to cover their essentials in life. We also have to maintain support and assistance to those who are unable to enter the mainstream economy, while providing them with the tools to live as self-sufficiently as possible.
We must also renew our appreciation for our domestic economy. While we should be engaged in international trade, we should also ensure that our trade policies both support the continued existence of a middle class in the United States, and also enable poorer nations to develop their own middle class and domestic economy and their societies according to their own values and cultures..
Values? Very simple. The Golden Rule, the importance of neighborliness and community, and an appreciation that the goal of the economy is to lift everyone's boat.
And most importance, we need to return to the balance of economic values with social and human values throughout society.
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